After the announcement of the pop star's departure on 'The Ellen Degeneres Show' on Wednesday (Feb. 19), Shelton spoke with reporters, explaining that he stood by Green and vouched for his buddy to stay on the television show.

"I campaigned a lot for Cee Lo to stay," the country singer says.' And I knew what the network was doing with changing coaches in and out, but I figured ... in the back of my mind, I guess I hoped Cee Lo would be back."

Adds Shelton, "I remember toward the end of that last season, he and I were both out of the competition, and so we'd sit there and drink every night on the show. And I'd go over and talk to him: 'Are you coming back? What are you going to do?'"

Unfortunately, Green has confirmed that he will not be returning to his famous red swivel chairs. But that doesn't mean it's the end of the road for fans who loved watching his eclectic antics on television -- Shelton confirms that whatever Green has up his sleeve, it will be entertaining.

“He’s got so much going on in his mind and so much creativity that a lifetime probably’s not enough to explore everything that he wants to try to do," Shelton shares. "He probably feels like he’s done his time on a reality show and he’s ready to go do a puppet show or whatever he’s got in mind next."